Dodgers pitchers don’t figure to get much rest

Unless the Dodgers expand their postseason starting rotation beyond three pitchers, there will be no rest for the weary the remainder of the National League Championship Series.

Ricky Nolasco is the scheduled Game 4 starter for the second consecutive postseason series. Should his spot in the rotation be passed over again today, it could mean Dodgers starters will be pitching on short rest the remainder of the NLCS.

Manager Don Mattingly left the door open for Zack Greinke to start today in what would be the first on three days rest in his nine-year career. Clayton Kershaw likely would follow with a Game 5 start on short rest.

Mattingly acknowledged the result of Game 3 could affect who will take the mound Game 4, but even when the Dodgers weren’t desperate during the NLDS they aligned their rotation as if they were.

Now that the Dodgers are desperate, Greinke would seem the more likely option today. Of course, there are dynamics currently in play that weren’t applicable in the NLDS.

Starting Kershaw on three days rest in the NLDS-clinching Game 4 set up a NLCS rotation that began with the ideal pairing of Greinke in Game 1 and Kershaw in Game 2, with both pitchers on normal rest.

Should the exclusive three-man rotation — and the series — continue long enough, Greinke, Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu could start the final three games of the NLCS on three days rest.

All Nolasco can do is wait in anticipation of his first career postseason start.

“Until somebody says otherwise, I’m focused on going out there and pitching (todayy),” Nolasco said. “Those things are out of my control. I’m only concentrating on the things I can control.”

Even the ideal scenario of a 2-1 lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS wasn’t enough to earn Nolasco a start following a rocky end to his regular season. After posting an 8-1 record after being traded to the Dodgers from the Miami Marlins on July 6, Nolasco posted a 12.75 earned-run average over his final three starts of the regular season.

Having admitted to weeks of discussion over replacing Nolasco with Kershaw in the NLDS, the Dodgers likely have been talking for some time about Greinke taking the mound for Game 4 of the NLCS today.

Prior to Monday’s game, Mattingly freely admitted he wasn’t sure who would start Game 4.

“Well, we don’t know,” Mattingly said. “Ricky’s ready to go. I’ll probably be able to tell you a lot more after the game.”

Nolasco hasn’t made a start since Sept. 25, but said he threw around 80 pitches in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.

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Waiting in limbo isn’t easy, but Nolasco is doing his best to prepare for the most significant start of his life.

“I think anybody would want to pitch in a postseason game,” Nolasco said. “You’re pretty pumped up and get some adrenaline going. Just stay focused. When they tell me, hey, my time will come.”